The Ebenezer Schools in 1924.The 1924 intermediate graduates of the Ebenezer Schools.
When C&MAmissionaries arrived at Zamboanga City in the 1900s, they realized they need a Bible school to train Filipinos in the way of the Lord. Ebenezer was built upon a foundation of two Christianday schools known as the Ebenezer Schools. The first school was for girls was established by Rev. David Lund and Mrs. Hulda Lund in 1903[1] and the school for boys was established by Rev. John A. McMillan in 1920. The school for girls was located in Barangay Tetuan, while the school for boys was in Barangay Mercedes.[2]
In 1925, Rev. Robert A. Jaffray, head of the C&MA South China field, visited the Philippines to assess the viability of the missionary work being conducted. He recommended the establishment of a Bible school to expand missionary work in the Western Mindanao region. Then on October 17, 1926,[2] the two schools were merged to form the Ebenezer Bible Institute, with Rev. George Strohm as its first principal.[3]
Post-war restoration
Classes were suspended during World War II and only resumed in 1946 by Rev. Herbert Jackson. For the first time in 1950, the Ebenezer Principal went to a Filipino, Rev. Vicente Pada. Ebenezer later transferred to their present location in Upper Calarian on July 12, 1957. In June 1962, the Ebenezer School Board voted to rename the school as the Ebenezer Bible College under the recommendation of Dr. Walter Roberto, an American educational consultant in the Philippines,[2] with Principal Pada automatically becoming its first director. In 1984, Dr. Adynna Lim became the first woman head of the institution and served until 1993.[3]
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